Rotary printing machine

Abstract

A rotary stencil printing machine includes: stencil making section for processing the stencil sheet to obtain a printing stencil; a printing drum having an outer cylindrical surface and a clamping member which clamps the front end portion of the stencil sheet thus processed by the stencil making section, the printing drum being turned with the front end portion of the stencil sheet clamped with the clamping member to wind the stencil sheet on the outer cylindrical surface thereof; a conveyer for conveying the stencil sheet, which has been processed by the stencil making section, towards the drum; a movable guide which is movable between a standby position and a holding position which are spaced away from each other in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the stencil sheet located between the stencil making section and the drum, the guide moving from the standby position to the holding position, for lengthening a stencil conveying path between the stencil forming section and the clamping member, wherein the guide receives the force by its own weight towards the holding position; and a pin for holding the guide at the standby position against its own weight, and for, after the stencil sheet is held on the side of the drum rather than on the side of the guide, releasing the guide.

What is claimed is: 
     
       1. A rotary stencil printing machine in which a printing stencil is obtained from a stencil sheet, said rotary stencil printing machine comprising: stencil making means for processing the stencil sheet to obtain the printing stencil;   a printing drum having an outer cylindrical surface and clamping means which clamps the front end portion of the stencil sheet thus processed by said stencil making means, said printing drum being turned with the front end portion of the stencil sheet clamped with said clamping means to wind the stencil sheet on said outer cylindrical surface thereof;   conveying means for conveying the stencil sheet, which has been processed by said stencil making means, towards said printing drum;   movable guide means which is movable between a standby position and a holding position which are spaced away from each other in a direction perpendicular to the surface of the stencil sheet located between said stencil making means and said printing drum, said movable guide means moving from said standby position to said holding position, for lengthening a stencil conveying path between said stencil making means and said clamping means;   urging means for urging said movable guide means towards said holding position; and   holding means for holding said movable guide means at said standby position against said urging means, and for, after the stencil sheet is held on the side of said printing drum rather than on the side of said movable guide means, releasing said movable guide means.   
     
     
       2. A rotary stencil printing machine according to claim 1, wherein said movable guide means has guide surfaces for both sides of the stencil sheet, to cause the stencil sheet to follow the movement of said movable guide means between said standby position and said holding position. 
     
     
       3. A rotary stencil printing machine according to claim 1, wherein the urging of said movable guide means by said urging means attributes to the weight of said movable guide means. 
     
     
       4. A rotary stencil printing machine according to claim 1, further comprising: returning means for, after the stencil sheet is wound on said printing drum, returning said movable guide means against said urging means.   
     
     
       5. A rotary stencil printing machine according to claim 4, further comprising: original reading means for reading an original to be printed; and   a reading motor which, when the original is read with said original reading means, is rotated in one direction to move said original reading means and the original with respect to each other, and, after the stencil sheet is wound on said printing drum, is rotated in the opposite direction through a predetermined angle,   wherein said returning means operating to return said movable guide means to the standby position in association with the rotation of said reading motor in the opposite direction.   
     
     
       6. A rotary stencil printing machine according to claim 1, wherein said holding means comprises: a link which has an engaging portion which is engaged with said movable guide means, and is swingably supported on a machine frame; and   an electro-magnetic solenoid for controlling the swinging of said link.   
     
     
       7. A rotary stencil printing machine according to claim 1, wherein, while a stencil making operation is being carried out said printing drum is turned in plural steps having intermittent pausing to wind the stencil sheet on said printing drum. 
     
     
       8. A rotary stencil printing machine according to claim 1, further comprising: damping means which, at least when said movable guide means is initially moved from the standby position to the holding position, resists said movable guide means to decrease the force of movement of the movable guide means which is urged by said urging means.